brush Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a dense growth of bushes
    thicket; coppice; brushwood; copse.
  2. noun an implement that has hairs or bristles firmly set into a handle
  3. noun momentary contact
    light touch.
  4. noun conducts current between rotating and stationary parts of a generator or motor
  5. noun a bushy tail or part of a bushy tail (especially of the fox)
  6. noun a minor short-term fight
    skirmish; encounter; clash.
  7. noun the act of brushing your teeth
    brushing.
    • the dentist recommended two brushes a day
  8. noun the act of brushing your hair
    brushing.
    • he gave his hair a quick brush
  9. noun contact with something dangerous or undesirable
    • I had a brush with danger on my way to work
    • he tried to avoid any brushes with the police
  10. verb rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
    • Johnson brushed the hairs from his jacket
  11. verb touch lightly and briefly
    • He brushed the wall lightly
  12. verb clean with a brush
    • She brushed the suit before hanging it back into the closet
  13. verb sweep across or over
    sweep.
    • Her long skirt brushed the floor
    • A gasp swept cross the audience
  14. verb remove with or as if with a brush
    • brush away the crumbs
    • brush the dust from the jacket
    • brush aside the objections
  15. verb cover by brushing
    • brush the bread with melted butter

WordNet

Brush noun
Etymology
OE. brusche, OF. broche, broce, brosse, brushwood, F. brosse brush, LL. brustia, bruscia, fr. OHG. brusta, brust, bristle, G. borste bristle, bürste brush. See Bristle, n., and cf. Browse.
Definitions
  1. An instrument composed of bristles, or other like material, set in a suitable back or handle, as of wood, bone, or ivory, and used for various purposes, as in removing dust from clothes, laying on colors, etc. Brushes have different shapes and names according to their use; as, clothes brush, paint brush, tooth brush, etc.
  2. The bushy tail of a fox.
  3. (Zoöl.) A tuft of hair on the mandibles.
  4. Branches of trees lopped off; brushwood.
  5. A thicket of shrubs or small trees; the shrubs and small trees in a wood; underbrush.
  6. (Elec.) A bundle of flexible wires or thin plates of metal, used to conduct an electrical current to or from the commutator of a dynamo, electric motor, or similar apparatus.
  7. The act of brushing; as, to give one's clothes a brush; a rubbing or grazing with a quick motion; a light touch; as, we got a brush from the wheel as it passed.
    [As leaves] have with one winter's brush Fell from their boughts. Shak.
  8. A skirmish; a slight encounter; a shock or collision; as, to have a brush with an enemy.
    Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the brushes of the war. Shak.
  9. A short contest, or trial, of speed.
    Let us enjoy a brush across the country. Cornhill Mag.
Brush transitive verb
Etymology
OE. bruschen; cf. F. brosser. See Brush, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Brushed present participle & verbal noun Brushing
Definitions
  1. To apply a brush to, according to its particular use; to rub, smooth, clean, paint, etc., with a brush. "A' brushes his hat o' mornings." Shak.
  2. To touch in passing, or to pass lightly over, as with a brush.
    Some spread their sailes, some with strong oars sweep The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave. Fairfax.
    Brushed with the kiss of rustling wings. Milton.
  3. To remove or gather by brushing, or by an act like that of brushing, or by passing lightly over, as wind; -- commonly with off.
    As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed With raven's feather from unwholesome fen. Shak.
    And from the boughts brush off the evil dew. Milton.
    You have commissioned me to paint your shop, and I have done my best to brush you up like your neighbors. Pope.
Brush intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To move nimbly in haste; to move so lightly as scarcely to be perceived; as, to brush by.
    Snatching his hat, he brushed off like the wind. Goldsmith.

Webster 1913